Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-18
CLOSING SCENES.
Last Day Of the Philadel-
phia Centennial.
SPEECHES BY THE PRESIDENT
A Magnificent Banquet Concludes
the Festivities-A Brilliant
ASsemblage.

PHILADELPHIA, SeptemDer lI.-ln
asst day of the Centennial opene,
clear, cool and bright and the street
were early thronged with people @
all nations. The stand in Indepen
dence square, in the rear of the olt
historical hall, had Il seating capacit,
of 10, 900 and had been filled for hour
at the time of opening the exercises
At the front of the stand was suspend
ed Photographic copy Of the origina
constitution.
AN HISTORICAL CHAIR.
At the east side of the stand stoot
the great old high-backed chair occu
pied by George Washington as pre-
siding officer of the Congress which
adopted the constitution. The Marine
Band discoursed music for half al
hour and 2000 children sang patriotic
airs, which evoked rounds OF applause
POPULAR PRESIDENT.
When the President and Mrs. Gle
veland reached the stand genera
Misunderstanding followed with thos'
whom they recognized or were recog
nized by; after which, in response t.
tumu tuous applause, they went side
by side to the railing and bowed ac
acknowledgements of the compliment
1t SEEMED as though the cheering
would never die out.
KAssoN's SPEECH.
Hon. John A. Kasson, as President
of the Constitutional Centennial Com
mission, after a hymn had been rem
dered by the choir, rose to make the
Introductory address. There was great
applause as Mr.. Kasson began with
the words: "The one object of this
celebration has been to demonstrate
and quicken the reverence and love
of the American people of all orders
for the national constitution.
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.
He concluded with the words: "May
the dawn of the second centennial yeal
be celebrated with increased fervor and
our Union gain strength as centuries
roll on. Forever live the Constitution
and the Unionn
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
President Cleveland made ter
minutes address, which was received
with great applause. In concluding
he said: Gas we look down the past
century to the origin of our constitu.
ton; as we contemplate its trial and
triumph as we realize how completely
the principles upon which it il
based and how it has met
every national peril and every
national need, how deyoutly
should we confess with Franklin tha
God governs in the affairs of men
and how solemn should be the refec
ton that to our hands is committed
the ark of the peoples covenant, anC
that ours is the duty to shield it from
impious hands. We receive il
sealed with the tests of a cen
tury. 1t was found sufficient il
the past and in all future years will be
found sufficient if the American
people are true to it's sacred trusts
Another centennial day will come and
millions yet unborn will inquire con
c,rning our stewardship and the
safety Of their inheritance. God
grant that they find it unimpaired
and as VIC rejoice in the patriotism
and devotion Of those who lived a
hundred years ago, so may the others
who follow us rejoice in our fidelity
and our jealous love for constitutional
liberty"
THE MEMORIAL GRAFTON
Was delivered by Justice Samuel f
Miller, of the United States Supreme
Court. AT the conclusion of the mu
sical exercises which followed the
oration, President Kasson took the
arm OF Cardinal Gibbons, and, after
walking to the front of the stand aud
paying respects to the thousands O
people, the Cardinal turned arounC
and faced the President, and, within
the hearing of all who occupied seats
around the circle, offered prayer.
PATRIOTIC MUSIC.
Upon the conclusion of the prayer
the strains of the "Star Spanglet
Banner" broke upon the crowd in vol
umes from the voice of a grand cho
rus, accompanied by the Marine
band. An impressive benediction
was then pronounced by Rev. Jert
Wetherspcon, of Nashville, Tenn.
UNPARALLELED ovATIoNs.
At the memorial exercises to-day, as
the benediction was concluded, the
Marine band began rendering march
and the President and Mrs. Cleveland
arm-in-arm, walked to the front of the
stage and bowed again and again in
Acknowledgement to the laundering
applause from these who stood in the
square. A wild rush was made ovel
the chairs and ratings in the stand tc
the place where they stood, and the
President gave short but involuntary
reception to those who succeeded II
reaching him. AS they passed out
they walked directly underneath the
old liberty bell, and a solid mass o.
people on either side of the footway
cheered and waved their handker
chiefs and umbrellas until they passeC
out OF sight. On the street another
ovation was given them, and they
were driven to the hotel.
A MONUMENT MooTED.
A meeting of the Governors to con
slider the question of erecting monu
ment in Independence square in com
memoration Of the adoption OF tin,
Constitution was held in Governo
Beavers headquarters. 1t was de
cided to appoint an executive com
mittee consisting of seven Governors
seven Philadelphia officials and thir
teen members OF the citizens com
mittee, who shall be empowered t.
take an action in regard to the con
templated monument and report.
A GOOD IDEA.
Governor Buckner, of Kentucky
suggested that arrangements be mad
for an annual meeting for theGovernor
of the various States for the purpos
of social intercourse and interchang
OF views. A committee was named t
arrange the time and place.
EULOGIzING THE IITBERNIANs.
At the Centennial banquet OF tn
Hibernian Society this afternoo